Good set of responses to the original question about REM & motor inhibition & eye movements. Just want to correct one response. Eye movements are not controlled by autonomic systems. The poster may have been thinking about functions like pupil dilation/contraction, which are, in fact, controlled by parasympathetic system. But movements of the eye are under separate control.
Also, I'll just add that describing the effect as motor paralysis is probably an overstatement. Brainstem areas, during REM, inhibit motor neurons in the spinal cord. That does not necessarily imply total paralysis. And while I'm at it, I'll add my own question to this topic, which I've never come up with a good answer to. Some species sleep standing up. Why don't they flop over and fall down when they enter REM? John >Besides eye movements are functionally under the ANS -- John Serafin Psychology Department Saint Vincent College Latrobe, PA 15650 [email protected] --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=818 or send a blank email to leave-818-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
